Fuel circuit for a fuel injector

Abstract

A fuel injector includes a forward end wall and an aft end wall. The fuel injector further includes side walls that extend between the forward end wall and the aft end wall. The forward end wall, the aft end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air. At least one fuel injection member is disposed within the opening and extends between the end walls. A fuel circuit is defined within the fuel injector. The fuel circuit includes an inlet plenum defined within the forward end wall of the fuel injector. The fuel circuit further includes a fuel passage that extends from, and is in fluid communication with, the inlet plenum. The fuel passage is defined within the at least one fuel injection member. The fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A fuel injector comprising:
 a first end wall and a second end wall disposed opposite from the first end wall; 
 side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the first end wall, the second end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air; 
 at least one fuel injection member disposed within the opening and extending between the end walls; and 
 a fuel circuit defined within the fuel injector, the fuel circuit comprising:
 an inlet plenum defined within the first end wall of the fuel injector; and 
 a fuel passage extending from and in fluid communication with the inlet plenum, the fuel passage defined within the at least one fuel injection member, wherein the fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member relative to an exterior cross-sectional area that is uniform along the entire length of the fuel injection member such that the fuel passage includes an interior shape that has at least one curvilinear portion and that is different than an exterior shape of the fuel injection member. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The fuel injector as in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fuel ports defined on the fuel injection member, the plurality of fuel ports providing for fluid communication between the fuel passage and the opening. 
     
     
       3. The fuel injector as in  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of fuel ports includes one of a chamfered inlet or a rounded inlet. 
     
     
       4. The fuel injector as in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the fuel passage gradually converges from the inlet plenum to the second end wall of the fuel injector. 
     
     
       5. The fuel injector as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel passage includes a first converging portion, a diverging portion, and a second converging portion. 
     
     
       6. The fuel injector as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fuel injection member comprises a pair of fuel injection members disposed between the side walls, wherein the fuel passage is defined within a first fuel injection member of the pair of fuel injection members and a second fuel passage is defined within the second fuel injection member of the pair of fuel injection members. 
     
     
       7. The fuel injector as in  claim 6 , wherein the fuel passage and the second fuel passage each have a respective cross-sectional area that varies from the inlet plenum to the second end wall. 
     
     
       8. The fuel injector as in  claim 6 , wherein the side walls comprise a first side wall fuel injection member and a second side wall fuel injection member, wherein a first side wall fuel passage is defined within the first side wall fuel injection member and a second side wall fuel passage is defined within the second side wall fuel injection member, and wherein the first side wall fuel passage and the second side wall fuel passage extend from and are in fluid communication with the inlet plenum. 
     
     
       9. The fuel injector as in  claim 8 , wherein the first side wall fuel passage and the second side wall fuel passage each have a respective cross-sectional area that varies from the inlet plenum to the second end wall. 
     
     
       10. A combustor comprising:
 an end cover; 
 at least one fuel nozzle extending between the end cover and a combustion liner, wherein the combustion liner extends downstream of the at least one fuel nozzle and defines a combustion chamber; 
 a fuel injector disposed downstream from the at least one fuel nozzle and in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
 a first end wall and a second end wall disposed opposite from the first end wall; 
 side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the first end wall, the second end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air; 
 at least one fuel injection member disposed within the opening and extending between the end walls; and 
 a fuel circuit defined within the fuel injector, the fuel circuit comprising:
 an inlet plenum defined within the first end wall of the fuel injector; and 
 a fuel passage extending from and in fluid communication with the inlet plenum, the fuel passage defined within the at least one fuel injection member, wherein the fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member relative to an exterior cross-sectional area that is uniform along the entire length of the fuel injection member such that the fuel passage includes an interior shape that has at least one curvilinear portion and that is different than an exterior shape of the fuel injection member. 
 
 
 
     
     
       11. The combustor as in  claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of fuel ports defined on the fuel injection member, the plurality of fuel ports providing for fluid communication between the fuel passage and the opening. 
     
     
       12. The combustor as in  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of fuel ports includes one of a chamfered inlet or a rounded inlet. 
     
     
       13. The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the fuel passage gradually converges from the inlet plenum to the second end wall of the fuel injector. 
     
     
       14. The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the fuel passage includes a first converging portion, a diverging portion, and a second converging portion. 
     
     
       15. The combustor as in  claim 10 , wherein the at least one fuel injection member comprises a pair of fuel injection members disposed between the side walls, wherein the fuel passage is defined within a first fuel injection member of the pair of fuel injection members and a second fuel passage is defined within a second fuel injection member of the pair of fuel injection members. 
     
     
       16. The combustor as in  claim 15 , wherein the side walls comprise a first side wall fuel injection member and a second side wall fuel injection member, wherein a first side wall fuel passage is defined within the first side wall fuel injection member and a second side wall fuel passage is defined within the second side wall fuel injection member, and wherein the first side wall fuel passage and the second side wall fuel passage extend from and are in fluid communication with the inlet plenum. 
     
     
       17. The combustor as in  claim 16 , wherein the first side wall fuel passage and the second side wall fuel passage each have a respective cross-sectional area that varies from the inlet plenum to the second end wall. 
     
     
       18. A turbomachine comprising:
 a compressor section; 
 a turbine section; and 
 a combustor disposed downstream from the compressor section and upstream from the turbine section, the combustor comprising:
 a head end portion including an end cover; 
 at least one fuel nozzle extending between the end cover and a combustion liner, wherein the combustion liner extends downstream from the head end portion and defines a combustion chamber; 
 a fuel injector disposed downstream from the at least one fuel nozzle and in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, the fuel injector comprising:
 a first end wall and a second end wall disposed opposite the first end wall; 
 side walls extending between the first end wall and the second end wall, wherein the first end wall, the second end wall, and the side walls collectively define an opening for passage of air; 
 at least one fuel injection member disposed within the opening and extending between the end walls; and 
 a fuel circuit defined within the fuel injector, the fuel circuit comprising:
 an inlet plenum defined within the first end wall of the fuel injector; and 
 a fuel passage extending from and in fluid communication with the inlet plenum, the fuel passage defined within the at least one fuel injection member, wherein the fuel passage has a cross-sectional area that varies along a length of the fuel injection member relative to an exterior cross-sectional area that is uniform along the entire length of the fuel injection member such that the fuel passage includes an interior shape that has at least one curvilinear portion and that is different than an exterior shape of the fuel injection member.